Fluid switch-over device and sanitary shower device

Abstract

A fluid switch-over device illustratively for use in a sanitary shower device, including at least one fluid inlet, at least two fluid outlets, and a movable switch-over body for controlling fluid connections of the at least two fluid outlets to the at least one fluid inlet. The switch-over body is switchable between at least three different operating positions. An actuation device is configured for sequential and bidirectional switching-over actuation of the switch-over body both in a forward switch-over direction and in a backward switch-over direction inverse to the forward switch-over direction. The actuation device illustratively includes a first actuation unit for sequential switching-over actuation of the switch-over body in the forward switch-over direction and a second actuation unit for sequential switching-over actuation of the switch-over body in the backward switch-over direction, wherein the two actuation units comprise operating elements that are user-operable independently of each other.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A fluid switch-over device, comprising:
 at least one fluid inlet and at least two fluid outlets; 
 a movable switch-over body for controlling fluid connections of the at least two fluid outlets to the at least one fluid inlet, wherein the switch-over body is switchable between at least three different operating positions; and 
 an actuation device, configured for sequential and bidirectional switching-over actuation of the switch-over body both in a forward switch-over direction and in a backward switch-over direction inverse to the forward switch-over direction; 
 wherein the actuation device comprises a first actuation unit for sequential switching-over actuation of the switch-over body unidirectionally in the forward switch-over direction and a second actuation unit for sequential switching-over actuation of the switch-over body unidirectionally in the backward switch-over direction; and 
 wherein the first actuation unit and the second actuation unit include operating elements that are user-operable independently of each other so that switching-over actuation of the switch-over body in the forward switch-over direction is accomplished by user-operating the operating element included in the first actuation unit only, while not by user-operating the operating element included in the second actuation unit, and switching-over actuation of the switch-over body in the backward switch-over direction is accomplished by user-operating the operating element included in the second actuation unit only, while not by user-operating the operating element included in the first actuation unit. 
 
     
     
       2. The fluid switch-over device according to  claim 1 , wherein the operating elements of the first actuation unit and the second actuation unit are operating elements responding to operating pressure. 
     
     
       3. The fluid switch-over device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first actuation unit includes a first linear force transmission element and the second actuation unit includes a second linear force transmission element, wherein the first linear force transmission element and the second linear force transmission element are coupled to a respective one of the operating elements of the first actuation unit and the second actuation unit, and to the switch-over body, and have opposite directions of action on the switch-over body. 
     
     
       4. The fluid switch-over device according to  claim 3 , wherein the switch-over body is rotatably movable about a rotation axis and the directions of action of the first linear force transmission element and the second linear force transmission element on the switch-over body are opposed directions of rotation. 
     
     
       5. The fluid switch-over device according to  claim 4 , wherein the switch-over body comprises a sprocket arrangement, and the first linear force transmission element and the second linear force transmission element cooperate with the sprocket arrangement on opposite sides in relation to a central longitudinal plane including the rotation axis of the switch-over body, wherein each of the first linear force transmission element and the second linear force transmission element is in engagement with the sprocket arrangement during a forward movement of the switch-over body for rotating and is in disengagement during a backward movement opposite to the forward movement. 
     
     
       6. The fluid switch-over device according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the sprocket arrangement comprises a common sprocket for both the first linear force transmission element and the second linear force transmission element, or 
 the sprocket arrangement comprises a first sprocket for the first linear force transmission element and a second sprocket for the second linear force transmission element, the second sprocket being axially offset in relation to the first sprocket. 
 
     
     
       7. The fluid switch-over device according to  claim 6 , wherein when the sprocket arrangement comprises a first sprocket and a second sprocket, the first sprocket and the second sprocket have opposed sawtooth-type toothed profiles. 
     
     
       8. The fluid switch-over device according to  claim 3 , wherein the actuation device comprises at least one elastic return element exerting an elastic return force on at least one of the first linear force transmission element and the second force transmission element towards an initial position. 
     
     
       9. The fluid switch-over device according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuation device is configured for generating a switch-over sound for signaling actuation upon actuation of the respective operating element of the first actuation element and the second actuation unit and corresponding change of the operating position of the switch-over body. 
     
     
       10. A fluid switch-over device, comprising:
 at least one fluid inlet and at least two fluid outlets; 
 a movable switch-over body for controlling fluid connections of the at least two fluid outlets to the at least one fluid inlet, wherein the switch-over body is switchable between at least three different operating positions; and 
 an actuation device, configured for sequential and bidirectional switching-over actuation of the switch-over body both in a forward switch-over direction and in a backward switch-over direction inverse to the forward switch-over direction; 
 wherein the actuation device comprises a first actuation unit for sequential switching-over actuation of the switch-over body in the forward switch-over direction and a second actuation unit for sequential switching-over actuation of the switch-over body in the backward switch-over direction; 
 wherein the first actuation unit and the second actuation unit include operating elements that are user-operable independently of each other; and 
 wherein the actuation device comprises a sliding guide mechanism with cooperating sliding guide elements on the switch-over body, and on a part of the fluid switch-over device that is stationary in relation to the switch-over body, wherein the sliding guide elements are movable relative to each other between stable positions, which define the operating positions of the switch-over body. 
 
     
     
       11. A sanitary shower device, comprising:
 a shower housing having a shower inlet and a shower head including at least two groups of shower jet output openings arranged fluidically in parallel; and 
 a fluid switch-over device for controlling fluid supply from the shower inlet to the fluidically in parallel arranged groups of shower jet output openings, the fluid switch-over device including: 
 at least one fluid inlet and at least two fluid outlets,
 a movable switch-over body for controlling fluid connections of the at least two fluid outlets to the at least one fluid inlet, wherein the switch-over body is switchable between at least three different operating positions, and 
 an actuation device, configured for sequential and bidirectional switching-over actuation of the switch-over body both in a forward switch-over direction and in a backward switch-over direction inverse to the forward switch-over direction, 
 wherein the actuation device comprises a first actuation unit for sequential switching-over actuation of the switch-over body unidirectionally in the forward switch-over direction and a second actuation unit for sequential switching-over actuation of the switch-over body unidirectionally in the backward switch-over direction, and 
 wherein the first actuation unit and the second actuation unit include operating elements that are user-operable independently of each other so that switching-over actuation of the switch-over body in the forward switch-over direction is accomplished by user-operating the operating element included in the first actuation unit only, while not by user-operating the operating element included in the second actuation unit, and switching-over actuation of the switch-over body in the backward switch-over direction is accomplished by user-operating the operating element included in the second actuation unit only, while not by user-operating the operating element included in the first actuation unit. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The sanitary shower device according to  claim 11 , wherein the switch-over body is disposed within the shower head, and the operating elements, that are user-operable independently of each other, are disposed mutually adjacent on the shower housing. 
     
     
       13. The sanitary shower device according to  claim 11 , wherein the operating elements of the first actuation unit and the second actuation unit are operating elements responding to operating pressure. 
     
     
       14. The sanitary shower device according to  claim 11 , wherein the first actuation unit includes a first linear force transmission element and the second actuation unit includes a second linear force transmission element, wherein the first linear force transmission element and the second linear force transmission element are coupled to a respective one of the operating elements of the first actuation unit and the second actuation unit, and to the switch-over body, and have opposite directions of action on the switch-over body. 
     
     
       15. The sanitary shower device according to  claim 14 , wherein the switch-over body is rotatably movable about a rotation axis and the directions of action of the first linear force transmission element and the second linear force transmission element on the switch-over body are opposed directions of rotation. 
     
     
       16. The sanitary shower device according to  claim 15 , wherein the switch-over body comprises a sprocket arrangement, and the first linear force transmission element and the second linear force transmission element cooperate with the sprocket arrangement on opposite sides in relation to a central longitudinal plane including the rotation axis of the switch-over body, wherein each of the first linear force transmission element and the second linear force transmission element is in engagement with the sprocket arrangement during a forward movement of the switch-over body for rotating and is in disengagement during a backward movement opposite to the forward movement. 
     
     
       17. The sanitary shower device according to  claim 14 , wherein the actuation device comprises at least one elastic return element exerting an elastic return force on at least one of the first linear force transmission element and the second force transmission element towards an initial position. 
     
     
       18. The sanitary shower device according to  claim 11 , wherein the actuation device comprises a sliding guide mechanism with cooperating sliding guide elements on the switch-over body, and on a part of the fluid switch-over device that is stationary in relation to the switch-over body, wherein the sliding guide elements are movable relative to each other between stable positions, which define the operating positions of the switch-over body.